"So," Itachi began, but couldn't find a way to finish. Usually, the well-prepped Uchiha Itachi was good at speaking with others. Just not when the 'others' are 'of the other gender'. And so begins our tale of Uchiha Itachi, a walking stick, whose grace and poise did nothing to serve him in high school. "So, Hinata, we should probably pick a subject then."

"Ah, yes, a subject," Hinata concluded, though it was more like echoing Itachi. Wow, would you look at the details of the plain white tiled floor? Simply, astonishing.

The two sat the coffee shop for a good ten, palpably weird, minutes.

Itachi lifted his glasses a little more. Hinata scratched the not really itchy forearm of hers. Itachi, after taking a good time to adjust his glasses more, settled with drinking more of his black coffee. He noticed Hinata's weird tick of scratching or poking, and before he could control himself -

"Did you need ointment for that itch?" He practically blurted out. He pursed his lips, and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. In a different lifetime, Itachi knew he was meant for greatness. However, right now, he was destined to try and live down his blurt out to the Hyuga Hinata.

"Uh," Hinata didn't know how to deal with that. Who the heck just asked if she needed ointment? Who still carried ointment? Oh that's right, Uchiha Itachi did. Suddenly, Hinata felt that her old, ragged shoes were so pretty, she had to admire them some more.

Itachi sat there, stiff. She probably thought he was a weirdo. Who the heck asked if someone needed ointment anyway?

"So," they both began.

"Oh, sorry!"

"No, go first!"

"Well, Hinata, first I wondered if you wanted coffee?" Itachi barely flinched, and knew the answer. No girl has ever told him 'yes'. So why start now? For all his genius, high school girls seemed to be attracted to types like his little brother, mischievous and cunningly bad. Itachi knew he was lanky and pale, but felt he had some of his mother's genes. Hopefully. After going over his physical attributes, Hinata looked at him expectedly.

"I'm sorry if you didn't hear, but I'm going to buy coffee now," she smiled, her bright and shy smile. Itachi unconsciously worried if his teeth sparkled like that. However, instead of remaining seated like Hinata wanted him to, he stood began apologizing.

"Hinata, please let me try to make amends for my obtrusive comment. I'll buy you coffee," he graciously offered. Hinata couldn't feel anymore awkward. Here he was, a polite and charming knight-in-shining-armor, and here she was: the Hyuga failure, but nodded silently. "Oh-kay," Itachi led her to the counter and let her browse over the options of coffee and pastries, which, if she asked nicely, he would buy.

"Hinata?" A familiar voice came from behind the counter. Hinata flinched, and looked into the familiar white eyes of Hyuga.

"Hi, brother," Hinata offered quietly. 'Please don't make a scene,' Hinata prayed quickly.

"So, what'll you have?" Neji asked, even though he knew she would order her favorite; salted caramel mocha.

"Aw, Neji-nii, you already know!" She pouted cutely. Itachi didn't know what to do. Is this how everyone else felt when he and Sasuke were talking with their minds? Should he just stand there? 'Yes, at least pay for her drink, Itachi,' he concluded.

"Okay, one sea-salt caramel mocha, Sasuke!" Itachi's ears perked up at the sound of his foolish little brother. Sasuke had a job? Since when? Oh, well, now was not the time to ask. "That'll be three twenty-five."

Itachi pulled out his wallet, and handed over the cash. It was only now that Neji had actually noticed Itachi, the junior who could mix into the wall better than his little 'sister', er, cousin? The family relations were fuzzy either way. Neji smiled politely and took the money from Itachi.

"Sasuke, guess whose here!" Neji yelled to the back again. There was an audible thud, and a string of curses.

Sasuke, the cooler younger Uchiha, in the eyes of high school girls, walked over. Hinata couldn't deny that she has given him more than a passing glance in the hallways before, but him in the bright yellow apron made her giggle. He gave her a look, and a smirk. Hinata turned bright red.

"Salted caramel? Mocha? Aniki, you've treated someone to coffee! Glad to know that you aren't just sitting and reading at home still. Godknows you'll turn into Kakashi-sensei if you keep that habit up." Sasuke kept on. Hinata's face burned. Itachi was a reader, too? Amazing, but woah, she expected him to be like, weird, or something. She was embarrassed, but took the drink from the counter as Sasuke slid it over. She looked up at him and said thank you. "Oh, no problem, princess, anytime," Sasuke winked. Neji rolled his eyes, if you can tell when a Hyuga rolls their eyes anyways.

"I feel ya, Sasuke. Hinata sits at home and plays video games! She doesn't eat. Doesn't like the sun. Hinata's a walking vampire, I swear." Neji helped along the playful banter. Itachi and Hinata stood there, taking the verbal pat down from their respective brothers. "Itachi, I swear though, you lay a finger on Hinata, and you can kiss coffee privileges good-bye," Neji joked, but kept the underlying steel of a protective older brother.

Itachi nodded, and Hinata began moving back to their table to continue the art project. Neji watched as the two sat down, and continued to be... themselves. Neji had to bite down a scream. Actually, it came from Sasuke instead. The pair looked at said Uchiha, who had stubbed his toe on the counter. Neji sighed, and motioned for Itachi and Hinata not to worry.

"Well, that felt pleasant," Sasuke muttered. He took notice of how his Aniki's eyes seemed to be all over the place, searching for something to say. His big brother only got that way if - "Hey!" Sasuke called to the only two customers in the coffee shop.

"Just kiss already!"